The French group ‘MECACHROME’, a reference partner of major aeronautics manufacturers and a specialist in high-precision mechanics, officially inaugurated the extension of its factory at the Mghira Aeronautics Park in Tunisia on 08 April 2025.

Born of a long-term partnership, this project is part of an ambitious vision to propel Tunisia into a new aeronautical era. This inauguration confirms that the aeronautical sector is one of the engines of growth for the Tunisian economy, thanks to a potential that has been confirmed for at least two decades and the presence of 80 world-renowned companies.

Mecachrome, an aeronautical equipment manufacturer supplying major international names such as Boeing and Airbus, has been present in Tunisia since 2010 in the Mghira industrial zone, in the governorate of Ben Arous. It currently employs 1,200 people and has three subsidiaries in Ben Arous, Sousse and Monastir.

The Italian automotive equipment manufacturer Sabelt, which employs 400 people at five sites, plans to set up a plant specialising in the production of safety devices in Tunisia, the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) announced in a press release published last week.
A delegation of Sabelt executives led by the company’s executive vice-president and general manager, Massimiliano Marsiaj and Giulio Graziano, paid a fact-finding visit to the country, where they met with FIPA’s general manager, Jalel Tebib, to discuss the feasibility of the project, according to the same source.
On this occasion, Mr Tebib confirmed FIPA’s readiness to ‘accompany the Italian company and support it in all the steps it needs to bring this project to fruition in Tunisia under the best possible conditions’.
Tunisia’s automotive industry comprises more than 250 companies, 67% of which export their entire production. It employs more than 100,000 people, including around 15,000 engineers, and exports are worth more than 5 billion dinars ($1.67 billion).
The sector’s development has been boosted by partnerships forged with several European countries, including France, Germany and Italy. Located at the gateway to Europe, Tunisia has created a highly attractive business environment for foreign investors in the manufacture of automotive components since the 1990s.

In 2024, Tunisia exported approximately 9.7 million pieces of professional clothing to the European market, valued at €317.7 million, with an average price of €32.66 per piece. This to confirm Tunisia’s rise to become the EU’s leading supplier of work clothing in 2024, capturing a 17.44% market share, and its position as the 4th largest supplier of jeans to the EU, with an 8.21% market share, according to recent data released by the Technical Center for Textiles (CETTEX).

This positions Tunisia as the supplier with the highest average unit price for professional clothing in the EU. However, despite remaining Europe’s preferred supplier for high-end workwear, Tunisian exports to the EU saw a 7% decline in the number of pieces in 2024 compared to 2023.

Around 76% of Tunisia’s work clothing exports are destined for three main markets: France (35.6%), Germany (30.7%), and Italy (9.7%). According to CETTEX, there is potential for growth, particularly in the German and Italian markets.

By addressing current challenges and seizing opportunities presented by new trade agreements, Tunisia could not only consolidate its role as a major EU supplier but also establish itself as an indispensable player in the international textile market.

FIPA Tunisia, Invest in Tunisia Agency, celebrated the end of 2024 under the best of auspices. This was confirmed by the FDI balance sheet published at the end of February 2025. Thanks to large-scale extensions, international investment in Tunisia reached 2956.6MTND at the end of 2024, a clear increase of 16.7% compared with 2023, 33.1% compared with 2022 and 57.5% compared with 2021. Manufacturing industries generated 61.1% of total FDI, followed by energy (23.7%), services (14.3%) and agriculture (0.8%).
The Tunisian automotive industry is doing well and continues to drive growth in inward FDI flows. In fact, five major operators in the automotive sector have started extensions to their operational sites in 2024, worth an estimated 1,000 MTND.
The flow of job-creating FDI (excluding energy) recorded in 2024 enabled 856 investment operations to be carried out, with a total value of 2220.8 MTND and the creation of 15681 new jobs.
Of these investment projects:
– 105 (12%) are creation projects worth 243.5 MTND (11%), creating 4340 (28%) new jobs, and
– 751 (88%) related to extension projects worth 1977.3 MTND (89%) which created 11341 (72%) new jobs.

The breakdown by country of the flow of job-creating FDI (excluding energy) puts France in first place with 644.2MTND, i.e. 29% of total FDI, Germany in second place with 340.2MTND and Italy in third place with 306.2MTND.The breakdown by country of the flow of job-creating FDI (excluding energy) puts France in first place with 644.2MTND, i.e. 29% of total FDI, Germany in second place with 340.2MTND and Italy in third place with 306.2MTND.La répartition par pays du flux des IDE créateurs d’emplois (hors énergie) place la France en première position avec 644,2MTND soit 29% du total des IDE, l’Allemagne est en deuxième position avec 340,2MTND, L’Italie troisième avec 306,2MTND.

As part of its international expansion, Avialys is laying the foundations for its future research and development centre for artificial intelligence and cyber security in Tunisia. The aim of this strategic initiative is to make Tunisia a key technology hub for innovation and cyber defence.
During a recent mission to Tunisia, Mr Eddy Taieb had constructive discussions with several key players in the technological and institutional ecosystem.

A clear ambition for Tunisia
Through this expansion, Avialys aims to :
– Develop a research centre in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, thereby strengthening local expertise.

— Create a cyber defence centre, positioning Tunisia as a strategic player in digital security.
– Promote Tunisian talent and foster technological cooperation with local and international institutions.
« With this move, Avialys is confirming its confidence in Tunisia’s potential and looking ahead to a future in which technology and cybersecurity will play a key role in the country’s economic development, » said Eddy Taieb.
AVIALYS is a company specialising in IT, cybersecurity, computing and telecommunications.

The inauguration of TUI’s new offices in Sousse, Tunisia Global Business Services, on January 28 marks a significant milestone in the group’s expansion in Tunisia. This strategic project positions the city as a key regional hub for TUI’s travel services, further strengthening Tunisia’s role within the group’s international network.

With the opening of these new offices in Sousse, TUI, the global leader in tourism and travel, reaffirms its ambition to develop high-quality travel services at the heart of the MENA region. Sousse is now a strategic center managing 320,000 trips annually. This development will not only provide a more efficient platform for travel management but also enhance TUI’s relationships with its regional and international partners.

The launch of these offices in Sousse also has positive implications for the local economy. The on-site team, composed of 150 employees, primarily works in English and German, two of TUI’s key business languages. “Our employees are trained to deliver excellent services and meet the growing needs of international clients. We are highly impressed by the skills and enthusiasm of our team, which reassures us that our international hub project in Tunisia has all the elements for success in the medium term,” stated Mr. Simon Cope, Managing Director, during the inauguration ceremony attended by a delegation from FIPA Tunisia, the main Tunisian partner of this new project.

The opening of this site in Tunisia aligns with TUI’s long-term strategy to strengthen its presence in emerging markets. In addition to its customer service and travel management activities, the company is also exploring collaboration opportunities with local stakeholders to expand its service offerings.

The inauguration of TUI’s Tunisia Global Business Services in Sousse is an opportunity to celebrate the strong relationship between Tunisia and the international group, which dates back to 1995 when TUI first began operations in the country through a partnership with a local player. By delivering top-quality services and leveraging its strategic position, TUI is paving the way for a prosperous future for Tunisia’s tourism industry and business travel sector.

Tunisia took part with a dedicated exhibition space at the largest international trade show specialising in modern technologies and innovation, CES 2025, which was held in Las Vegas, in the United States, from 7 to 10 January 2025. More than 40 Tunisian companies and start-ups took part in CES to promote Tunisian technological innovations and products on the American market and the world’s main modern technology markets via the Tunisian Innovation Hub pavilion. CES, launched in 1967, is the world’s largest trade show dedicated to technological innovation, showcasing previews of innovative products from the world’s leading companies and start-ups. The 2024 edition attracted more than 135,000 trade visitors and 4,300 exhibitors representing more than 150 countries, as well as 1,400 start-ups, with more than 250 conferences featuring 1,000 high-level speakers, where artificial intelligence dominated most of the themes.

The aeronautics industry is growing at an average annual rate of 8%, is characterised by a high level of management, has 80 companies, 90% of which export their entire production, and employs more than 17,000 people. The sector has withstood successive crises, including the COVID-19 crisis in 2020/2021, and Tunisia is Germany’s leading aeronautical supplier and France’s 3rd largest supplier on the African continent.